Repairing A Screen Door

Replacing damaged components is easier than you think.

A patio door is a great way to bring the spaciousness of the outdoors into your home. And with its sliding screen, you can enjoy fresh air without inviting in a variety of airborne pests. As for routine maintenance, there's little more to do than keep the track and rollers clean. That is, until someone accidentally tears the screen. Most modern screen doors consist of a lightweight aluminum frame across which fiberglass screening material is stretched. While fiberglass is an economical choice (see "Screens At A Glance," below), it doesn't take much to punch a hole in it. The good news is that a damaged screen is easy to replace and you'll find all the materials you need at your local hardware store.

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Before your shopping trip, slide the door back and forth and check for broken parts. If the door doesn't slide easily, vacuum all dirt from the track and try again. If it's still sticky, add new rollers to your shopping list. To remove the door from the frame, simply lift it up and pull the bottom edge away from the track.

When you replace a damaged screen, there are two things you need to become familiar with, fast. After the screen itself, the most important material is the spline--the narrow rubber tubing that locks the screen in a groove around the frame. Spline comes in various diameters--with some sizes differing in diameter by only 1/64 in.--and matching your new spline to the old is important. Then, you'll need a spline-installation tool. This pizza-cutter-like device has a roller at each end. The convex end forms the screen in the groove, and the concave end presses the spline in place.

What to Buy

While almost all home centers and most hardware stores stock rescreening supplies and universal door hardware, doors from some larger manufacturers may require specific replacement parts. Anderson, for example, sells replacement hardware for its doors at The Home Depot. However, if your door is from a smaller, regional company, generic parts will most likely work. If you're replacing your door's rollers, bring an original along so that you can find the right match.

Buy enough screen to overlap the doorframe by about 2 in. on each edge. You'll also need a new spline (which holds the screen in its groove) if the existing one is brittle or breaks, and a spline-installation tool

Removing the Screen

A sliding screen is supported on rollers that ride in a track. Lift it until the rollers clear the track. Then, pull the bottom out and lower the door until it clears the top edge of the frame.

Step 1: Remove the Handle

Step 2: Use an Awl

It's common to find a separate length of spline on each side of the frame. Use an awl or pick to catch the end of a piece and pry it up. Try not to damage the spline--if it's not broken or brittle it can be reused.